Giggs reaches new milestone with 800th match

MANCHESTER, England: Ryan Giggs made another notch in his remarkable Manchester United career on Wednesday with his 800th appearance for the club.

The 35-year-old Welshman came on as a 67th-minute substitute in United's 1-0 defeat of Arsenal in the Champions League semifinal, first leg and almost marked the occasion with a goal, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Giggs, voted England's Player of the Year by his peers in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) on Sunday, won praise from an unlikely source before Wednesday's match - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Wenger told reporters that a player needs more than skill to prosper at the top level for so long and the evergreen Giggs demonstrated his class with a lively cameo.

"I have so much respect for him. He started his career in 1991 and we are now in 2009. When a player has spent 18 years at that level you have to have complete respect when you know what it demands - the sacrifices, the focus," Wenger said.

Although Sunday's award was his first major individual honour, Giggs is the most decorated player in the history of English soccer with 10 league championship medals, two Champions League medals, four FA Cups and three League Cups among his vast collection of silverware.

Reuters

(China Daily 05/01/2009 page11)